Thapa Kaji is a large

social group In the social sciences, a social group can be defined as two or more people who interact with one another, share similar characteristics, and collectively have a sense of unity. Regardless, social groups come in a myriad of sizes and varieties ...

of people of Jharra/Pure

Chhettri Chhetri (Kshetri, Kshettri, Kshetry or Chhettri), ( ne, क्षेत्री ; IAST: ''Kṣetrī'') historically called Kshettriya or Kshetriya or Khas are Nepali speakers of Khas community, some of whom trace their origin to migration from ...

caste (

Kshatriya Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the co ...

varna) in

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...

. Thapas of Uttrakhand And Himanchal State of India are considered as Pahari Rajput. Over a period of time, this community has spread to many parts of the world. The surname originated during the Khas Kingdom in Karnali region during middle age-it referred to a position/post of a warrior. Chhetri is considered a derivative form of the Sanskrit word

. "Kaji" means administrator or ruler. It was a hereditary family title awarded to some famous Nepali

castes like Thapa,

Basnyat Basnyat/Basnet family or Basnyat/Basnet dynasty ( ne, बस्न्यात वंश/बस्न्यात काजी खलक) was a Khas-Chhetri and a warlord clan family involved in the politics and administration of the Gorkha Ki ...

/ Basnet,

Pandey Pandey, Pande, or Panday (Hindi: पाण्डेय/पाण्डे/पाँडे/पाण्डेय) (Nepali: पाण्डे/पाँडे/पाण्डेय) is a surname found among the communities of Brahmins in India and ...

, Kunwar,

Bista Bista ( ne, बिष्ट) is a family name of people of Nepal belonging to Khas people group under the caste Chhetri, sub-groups of Kshatriya varna and the Bahun caste of Brahmin varna. They are Hindu with a local Masto deity. They speak Nep ...

, Khadka, etc. Majority of Thapas Chhetri speak the Nepali language as mother tongue. The Thapas Chhetris are divided into many sub-castes which are the: * Bagale Thapa * Godar Thapa * Hriksen Thapa * Lamichhane Thapa * Panwar Thapa * Suyal Thapa Thapa Chhetri are found in different parts of current Nepal and some parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal State of India. Currently many of the Thapa Chhetri are found in Nepal, and parts of India i.e. Sikkim, Himachal, Assam as well as in Bhutan and Myanmar. The Thapa Chhetri are Kshatriya or varna like

/ Basnet of Nepal. Thapas were the major political and military figures during and after the unification of the Nepal. Bir Bhadra Thapa was a Thapa of

Chhetri Chhetri (Kshetri, Kshettri, Kshetry or Chhettri), ( ne, क्षेत्री ; IAST: ''Kṣetrī'') historically called Kshettriya or Kshetriya or Khas are Nepali speakers of Khas community, some of whom trace their origin to migration from ...

group and leading Bharadar during

Unification of Nepal The Unification of Nepal, also known as Expansion of Gorkha Kingdom, officially began in 1743 AD (1799 BS) after King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha launched an aggressive annexation campaign seeking to broaden his own kingdom's border. After ...

. His grandson

Bhimsen Thapa Bhimsen Thapa ( ne, भीमसेन थापा (August 1775 – 29 July 1839)) was a Nepalese statesman who served as the ''Mukhtiyar'' (equivalent to prime minister) and de facto ruler of Nepal from 1806 to 1837. He is widely known as the ...

became

Prime Minister of Nepal The Prime Minister of Nepal ( ne, नेपालको प्रधानमन्त्री) is the head of government of Nepal. The Prime Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers of Nepal and the chief adviser to the President of ...

and established Thapa faction in the central power. Thapas were a major power base of Nepal in the 17th century starting from Mukhtiyar

(first prime minister of Nepal). Then it was carried out and shined by Major other historical Nepalese hero like Amar Singh Thapa, Bhakti Thapa, and

Mathabarsingh Thapa Mathabar Singh Thapa ( ne, माथवरसिंह थापा, born 1798, Borlang, Gorkha17 May 1845, Basantapur, Kathmandu), also spelled Mathbar, Mathawar, Mathavar, variantly called Matabar Singh Thapa ( ne, मातवरसिं� ...

. Due to the unique relation between royal family of Nepal and Thapas, they were always viewed close to royal family. The Rana who ruled Nepal for 104 years were established by

Jung Bahadur Rana Maharaja Jung Bahadur Kunwar Ranaji, (born Bir Narsingh Kunwar ( ne, वीर नरसिंह कुँवर), 18 June 1817; popularly known as Jung Bahadur Rana (JBR, ne, जङ्गबहादुर राणा)) () belonging to the ...

who rise in power by support of his maternal uncle,

who was Prime Minister. Modern Chhetri Thapa are Surya Bahadur Thapa was PM of Nepal for 5 times. Army chiefs Dharmapaal Barsingh Thapa, Pyar Jung Thapa.

Gagan Thapa Gagan Kumar Thapa (born 19 July 1976) is a Nepali politician and youth leader, who is the current General Secretary of the Nepali Congress. He is currently serving as a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives, Nepal from Kathmandu ...

also belongs to Chhetri family.

Notable Thapa Kaji

* Amar Singh Thapa: Commander in chief during the Anglo-Nepal war also known as "The Living Lion" due to his bravery. * Bhakti Thapa: given the title "The bravest of the brave" by the British for his bravery as he led a small group of Gurkha soldiers at the age of 70 and fought until death. * Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, Former Foreign Affairs and Finance Minister and Diplomat *

: First prime minister of Nepal, who ruled from Susta in west to Teesta in the east (the greatest extension of Nepal) * Bhola Thapa , Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University *

Dhan Singh Thapa Lieutenant Colonel Dhan Singh Thapa Magar, PVC (10 April 19286 September 2005) was an Indian Army officer, and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration. Thapa Magar was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, 8 Gor ...

, Param Vir Chakra winner * Dharmapaal Barsingh Thapa, Ex COAS * Dharmaraj Thapa, poet with title "Janakavi Keshary" *

, Prominent youth leader from Nepali Congress * Gajraj Singh Thapa, Tea Industry pioneer *

Ganesh Thapa Ganesh Thapa ( ne, गणेश थापा) is an ex president of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). He was formerly the president of the South Asian Football Federation and the vice president of Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Fam ...

, Ex-ANFA chairman * Jharna Thapa, Nepali Actress * Kamal Thapa, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal and President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party * Leeladhwaj Thapa, 1st novelist to win

Madan Puraskar The Madan Puraskar ( ne, मदन पुरस्कार) is a literary honor in Nepal which Madan Puraskar Guthi confers annually for an outstanding book in the Nepali language published within the calendar year. It is considered the most pre ...

Manjushree Thapa Manjushree Thapa (born 1968 in Kathmandu) is a Nepalese–born Canadian essayist, fiction writer, translator and editor. She is one of the first English writer of Nepali descent to be published internationally. '' Forget Kathmandu'' and '' The T ...

, Nepali author of English-language books *

: First Prime Minister of Nepal to wear the crown, Nephew of

, brother-in-law of King Rana Bahadur Shah, Maternal Uncle of

Nain Singh Thapa Nain Singh Thapa or Nayan Singh Thapa ( ne, नैनसिंह थापा/नयनसिंह थापा) (died late 1806 or early 1807) was a Nepalese Kaji (minister) and a military general. He died in the offensive campaign of Kangra f ...

, General Kaji, * Pyar Jung Thapa Ex COAS of Nepal Army * Ranabir Singh Thapa, Kaji Commander of Makawanpur at Anglo-Nepalese war *

Rekha Thapa Rekha Thapa ( ne, रेखा थापा) is a Nepalese film actress. She is considered one of the most successful actresses in Nepali cinema. She was a top ten finalist for Miss Nepal in the year 1999. She made her film debut two years later ...

, Nepali Actress *

Sher Bahadur Thapa Sher Bahadur Thapa ( ne, शेरबहादुर थापा) VC (20 November 1921 – 19 September 1944) was a Nepalese Gurkha recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the e ...

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previousl ...

holder was only Nepali Kshetri to receive VC *

Shyam Bhakta Thapa Shyam Bhakta Thapa ( ne, श्यामभक्त थापा) is the 18th IGP of Nepal and the last police officer of Nepal Police to serve as the police chief during the Maoists Insurgency. He was preceded by Pradip Shumsher J.B.R. Prad ...

, Ex IGP of Nepal Police * Surya Bahadur Thapa, Five times PM of Nepal, who singlehandedly operated and protected autocratic Panchayat System *

Ujir Singh Thapa Ujir Singh Thapa or Uzir Singh Thapa ( ne, उजिरसिंह थापा), also known as Wazir Simha Thapa, anglicized as Wuzeer Singh, was Nepalese administrator and military officer. He was the son of Kaji Nain Singh Thapa, a nephew of th ...

, Kaji Commander of Palpa at Anglo-Nepalese war

References

Sources

* * {{Chhetri communities , Surnames of Nepalese origin Nepali-language surnames